‘Wicked: One Wonderful Night’: 9 Things You Didn’t See on TV, Including Multiple Takes of ‘Defying Gravity’

The Dolby Theatre, a premier Los Angeles venue renowned for hosting the Academy Awards, was the setting for a special behind-the-scenes look during the September 24th taping of "Wicked: One Wonderful Night." While the final broadcast featured spectacular moments like the Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo duet, many delightful off-camera incidents were left on the cutting room floor, offering the packed audience of devoted fans a unique glimpse into the production's inner workings.

Before filming officially began, the audience became part of the show, learning the choreography for the opening number, "No One Mourns the Wicked." Those in the orchestra section were given artificial tulips and taught the specific flower-tossing movements from the film, which they executed in perfect sync with Ariana Grande's entrance as Glinda. The sequences were filmed out of order, and while most musical numbers were captured in a single take, powerful songs like "The Wizard and I" and "Defying Gravity" were performed twice to ensure a flawless version, effectively granting the crowd an unexpected encore. As one production insider noted, "For a live-to-tape event, that level of repetition is a luxury that gives the final product its polish."

The evening was filled with playful teases and alternate takes that never made it to air. Director Jon M. Chu filmed multiple introductions for packaged segments, including one highlighting unseen audition tapes from celebrities like Khloe Kardashian and another teasing an exclusive new clip; only the auditions were broadcast. On several occasions, the cast set up premieres for new songs or a pre-recorded performance of "For Good" from the Gershwin Theatre—the Broadway home of "Wicked" since 2003—only to reveal the audience wouldn't be seeing them, eliciting a mix of groans and laughter from the crowd.

One of the most charming untelevised moments occurred when Grande, whose career skyrocketed from child actor to global pop superstar, chose a four-year-old audience member named Remington, who was dressed as Elphaba, to be her scene partner for "Popular." Choreographer Christopher Scott, who had rehearsed the part himself, admitted backstage, "It was me and Ari, and I'm pretending to be this 4-year-old child. In my mind, I'm thinking, 'I don't know what a 4-year-old is going to do.'" The pair performed the number flawlessly in one take, with Grande ensuring the young boy got his prop broom back.

With Jonathan Bailey unavailable for the taping, the creative team devised a fresh approach to represent his character, Fiyero. This opened the door for Bowen Yang to step into the role, with Ethan Slater and Marissa Bode also taking turns in the costume. This inventive solution not only honored the character's presence but also provided fans with a novel and entertaining segment. The four-hour taping was expertly managed by emcee Bill Sindelar, who kept energy high with dance sessions and by showcasing elaborate fan costumes, ensuring that even during technical resets, the atmosphere remained electric.